
ProverbHuman Nature
Russian origin
Рыбак рыбака видит издалека (Rybak rybaka vidit izdaleka)
Meaning: People of the same kind recognize each other at once.
Literally: A fisherman spots a fisherman from afar
Example: “Они сразу нашли общий язык — оба заядлые шахматисты. Рыбак рыбака видит издалека.” — They hit it off at once, both keen chess players: birds of a feather flock together.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 7 more languages
English: Birds of a feather flock together
French: Qui se ressemble s'assemble (literally: Those who resemble each other gather together)
Spanish: Dios los cría y ellos se juntan (literally: God raises them and they come together)
Japanese: 類は友を呼ぶ (Rui wa tomo o yobu) (literally: Like calls to like)
German: Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern (literally: Like and like gladly keep company)
Italian: Chi si somiglia si piglia (literally: Those who are alike take to each other)
Portuguese: Cada qual com o seu igual (literally: Each one with his equal)
Dutch: Soort zoekt soort (literally: Kind seeks kind)
Polish: Ciągnie swój do swego (literally: One's own draws to one's own)
Chinese: 物以类聚 (Wù yǐ lèi jù) (literally: Things gather by kind)
Korean: 가재는 게 편 (Gajaeneun ge pyeon) (literally: The crayfish sides with the crab)Arabic: الطيور على أشكالها تقع (Aṭ-ṭuyūr ʿalā ashkālihā taqaʿ) (literally: Birds land with their own kind)
Origin: The rhyme of рыбака and издалека carries it: one fisherman knows another by his gear and habits before a word is spoken.
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- Ты умница (ty umnitsa) You're bright, clever, and admirable — said warmly of someone who handles things well.
- У тебя золотые руки (u tebya zolotye ruki) You're extraordinarily skilled — able to make or fix anything with your hands.
- Золотые руки (Zolotye ruki) You're wonderfully skilled with your hands — a true master at making and fixing things.
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